Shuttle box construction for looms



De- 21, 1937. B. W. BROUWER `2,102,832

A SHUTTLE BOX CQNSTRUCTION FOR LOOMS Filed Oct. 1, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Een] afmm W. Brouwer Dec- 21, 1937. B. w. BROUWER 2,102,832

SHUTTLE BOX CONSTRUCTION FOR LOOMS Filed Oct. l, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Benamunl. Brouwer A110 rney Dec.v 21, 1937. B. w. BRouwER SHUTTLE BOX CONSTRUCTION FOR LOOMS Filed Oct. l, 1936 33 Sheets- Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 21, 1937 PATENT orifice 2,102,832 l SHUTTLE Box ooNs'raUc'rIoN Foa LooMs Benjamin W. Brouwer, Auburn, Mass., assigner to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass., a kcorporation of Massachusetts Application October 1, 1936, Serial No. 103,556

9 Claims.

In' the 'production of a variety of fabrics it frequently happens that one kind of cloth can most efficiently be woven on a weft replenishingr loom while another type requires more shuttles than can conveniently be used on the automatic loom. In order that these fabrics may be Woven without requiring two entirely different looms it has been proposed to provide a loom which is convertible, a weft replenishing magazine being set in operating position at one time and being removed to an idle position to provide room for a set of shifting shuttle boxes when pick and pick fabrics are tobe made.

When shifting shuttle boxes are used there is generally provided a pair of guide plates having grooves to receive tongues at the ends of the gang of boxes. These tongues and grooves serve to align the box backs with the reed to insure proper flight of the shuttle. It is equally necessary'that the back of the plain or single box used with the magazine also be aligned with Vthe reed. It is an important object of my present invention to secure permanently to a part of the lay a guide to serve the usual function with shifting shuttle. boxes, but capable of cooperating with a positioning tongue von the single box. In this way the relation between the reed,V the guide tongue on either type of box, the groove of the guide plate and the back of either type of. box is the same in both instances.

In order to insure proper flight of the shuttle the boxes are sometimes tilted slightly, the pitch being down so that the shuttle may always tend to run close to the shuttle race. The picker stick is located close to the guide for the outer tongue of the shifting boxes and the vibration due to shuttle boxing is absorbed by a bunter which lies between the guide plate and the lay end. As

heretofore constructed the bunter has been forced against a part which is integral with the lay, hence the plate could be given a slightly oblique position which would not be disturbed by shuttle boxing. In the present instance, however, the necessity for being able to use a single box makes it impossible to use the previous construction and it is a further object of my invention to provide a block betweenthe lay end and the box guide separate from both of these parts to be used with the gang of boxes and held to the lay by a tongue and groove connection. The block supports the guide plate so that the latter can be adjusted angularly to give the proper pitch to the shuttle.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the upper forward part of a loom having my invention applied thereto with the lay in section, the magazine being shown in transferring position,

Fig. 2 is a front elevationv on an enlarged scale looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of the single box forming elements,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 `is a front elevation taken in the direc`- tion of arrow 5, Fig. 1, but showing the loom equipped with shifting shuttle boxes and the magazine swungto an inoperative position,

Fig. 6 is a detached perspective view of certain parts used when shifting shuttle boxes are employed at the magazine end of the loom,

Fig. 7 shows an assembly position of the shifting boxes taken along line l-l of Fig. 5 and showing the boxes as they are being either removed from the loom or inserted to permit pick and pick weaving, Y

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7 but with the shifting boxes in a normal position,

Fig. 9 is an end, elevation taken in the direction of arrow 9, Fig. 2, and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a block used when shifting shuttle boxes are employed at the magazine end.

Referring to the drawings, the loom frame Ii) has a supporting structure il for a pivot I2 around which the magazine M can be swung from the full to the dotted line position of Fig. 1. When in the fullline position the magazine cooperates witli the single shuttle box Ato be described hereinafter and when the loom is to be operated pick and `picli: the magazine is swung to the dotted position. A support i3 may be. provided toihold the magazine in its idle position.

The lay L moves back and forth in the usual way and carries a protector rod I d with a protector finger i5 which operates as usual with the binder of the active shuttle box aligned with the shuttle race I6. An inner box guide l1 fixed relatively to the lay has a groove |8 which serves to position both the stationary and the shifting shuttle boxes to be described.

A box lifter chain 20 is attached as at 2l to a sleeve 22 movable vertically with respect to a foot` 23 on a rocker shaft 24 which supports the lay through swords one of which is indicated at 25. A ,box lifter rod 28 passes through the sleeve 22 and is surrounded by a spring 21 strong enough to hold the nut 28 on the rod 26 normally against the under side of the sleeve 22. A rod 29 extends through a nger 38 of the sleeve to receive the downward thrustof spring 3| to prevent overriding of the box lifter rod when the latter is raised.

The matter thus far described is of the usual construction, the method of mounting and handling the magazine being substantially the same as that set forth in co-pending application Serial No. 74,519 and the magazine if desiredbeing of the general form shown in Patent No. 1,563,592.

In carrying my present invention into effect I provide an improved form of lay end E having rearwardly extending ears 35 to support a picker spindle 36, see Fig. 4. A horizontal elongated slot 31. is formed in the lay end opposite the spindle 3E and has outer and inner enlargements 38 and 39, respectively, for a picker 48 indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 4.

The lay end has a vertical wall 42 from the lower end of which projects forwardly a floor 43 perforated as at 44 for the box lifter rod. The wall and floor may be connected by a reinforcing end Web 45 if desired and the inner or left end of the lay end as viewed in Fig. 4 may be secured to the lay as at 46. The upper wall 41 of the lay end has tapped.V holes 48 and 49 below the slot 31 and may also have dowel holes 58 and 5I. The forwardy face 550i the upper wall 41 is at and vertical as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. There is alsoa bolt slot 58 preferably aligned with the enlargement 38. The lay end is secured permanently to the layv and is the structure to which either the single box or the set of shifting boxes isapplied depending upon whether the loom operates automatically or pick and pick.

When the loom is to be operated automatically with1 the magazine in the full line position of Fig. l there is` used a single shuttle box designated generally at B, the principal forming part of which is the element 88. shown as the central part of Fig. 3. VThis element or box former has a floor 6| with an elongated slot'82 to permit the passage of depleted bobbins and there projects forwardly from this floor a bunter 53 which takes part in a transferring operation of the loom. A binder guide 84 extends upwardly from the oor adjacent the inner forward end thereof.

A rear Wall 65, preferably integral with the oor 6|, is provided with a slot 56 which aligns horizontally with the slot 31 and this slot has outer and inner enlargements 81 and 88, respectively, which align with the enlargements 38 and 39, respectively. The Wall 55 has extending along the upper edge thereof a narrow top 1B which serves to prevent upward displacement of the shuttle.

A depending wall 1|, preferably an extension or continuation of wall 85, extends downwardly from the floor to lie along the lower part of surface 55. Screws 12A extend through the lower wall 1| and are threaded into the tapped holes 48 and 49 tohold the wall 1| tightly against the surface 55,A while dowels 13 secured permanently'to the wallk 1| fit the dowel holes 50 and.V 5|.

The left or inner end of wall 65 is provided with a tongue 15 as shown in Fig. 3 which fits into the groove |8 of the guide l1. When assembling the element the tongue is' fitted into the guide groove and the dowels into their holes after which the screws 12 are tightened. The front surface 1G of the wall 85 is in alignment with the front surface 'i1 of the guide I1, this relation being maintained by the tongue and groove connection between the wall 65 and the guide |1. As4 a shuttle is picked from this box therefore it passes smoothly from the Wall 55 to the guide.

The binder 88 has bolted thereto a strap 8| through Which extends a screw 82, the head 83 of which confines the strap. The screw 82 is held tightly to a binder block 84 having a bolt hole 85 to align With a bolt slot 86 in the outer Wall 55 and the bolt slot 58 in the lay end. Bolt holes 81 in the outer part of the plate or floor 5| receive bolts 88 which fasten the block 84 down on the floor, while a bolt 89 passes through the aligned holes 85, 85 and 56 to hold the block 8.4 against the front face of wall 85. The binder has a tongue 98 which fits into the binder guide 54, and a pressure nger 9| may be provided to engage the strap 8| and tend normally to hold the binder rearwardly in shuttle checkingr position.

The nger 8| is mounted loosely on a shaft 92 journaled as atl 83', see Fig. 2, and has the outer end thereof' supported by a bearing 94 held to the bottom of the floor 8| by bolts 88 shown in Fig. 9. A spring arm 96 secured to the shaft 92 operates to exert a rearward yielding pressure on the nger 9|, andthe shaft 92 is controlled by an arm 98 to oscillate the shaft. associated with the shaft 92 may be substantially the same as those shown in the prior Santori Patent No. 2,045,967 and copending Darwin application Serial No. 59,253.

In thatrpart of my'invention thus far described the box element and binder 8,8 constitute a single boxV to be located on the lay under 'the magazine when the latter is in transferring position With the element 68 bolted to the Wall 41y and positioned by the dowels and the tongue and groove connection already described. During a weft replenishing operation the outgoing bobbin passes through slot 82 in well-known manner and the bunter E3 actuates the transferrer Varm not shown but forming part of magazine M.

Solong as the loom is'to Ybe operated automatically the singleabox remains attached tothe lay, the picker passing along the aligned slots 31 and to drive the shuttle out ofthe box. When it is desired' to operate the loom pick and pick the single box is removed in a manner which is thought to be apparent from the drawings and previous description, after which the shifting boxes are applied as will now be described.

As shown herein I have set forth a gang G of four shuttle boxesor cells |00 which are mounted on the upper end of the box lifter rod 28. These boxes are preferably cast as a single unit and have inner and outer vertical guide tongues |8| and |82 which fit, respectively, the previously described guides |1 and a specially formed guide |93. The latter comprises a plate |04 having a groove |05 to receive the tongue |92 and the lower part of the plate has a perforationY |86 in alignment with the tapped hole |01, while theA intermediate outwardly extending projection |88.of the platehas abolt slot |89 in alignment with thev previously describe-d bolt slot 5B. The plate |84V may havev extendingV rearwardly The parts f aioassf therefrom shuttle pointengag'ing wings ||0 between which the picker movesl Inorder'thatthe'plate |04'may be spaced from the-wall41 I provide a' spacer block ||5 having a boltv slot I|6 in alignment with similar slots 55 and |09. -The block has a vertical tongue ||1 "-lonaweb ||8 to tav corresponding groove ||9 disposedvertically in thewall 41 of the lay end.A The" plate andblock may be Aheldsecurely to Y 10 thelayend by the same bolt 89 used lwith the singlebox, thefton'gue" ||1 rvandgroove llll'preventing angular movement of the block |'|5'rela ,tivelyto the lay end. 'Theboltyhoweven per- 1mits a` slight'angular adjustment-oi the plate |04 relatively to Athe vrblock so that lthe `pitch of the shuttle cells |00 may be made slightly oblique withy respectl to the lay. The bolt passing throughthehole |06 and into the tapped hole |01 may hold the'lower part of the plate securely 20' tothe lay en d and may 'also if-desired serve as a pivot around which the plate is movedwhen bein'gangularly adjusted, the hole |09 being sufficiently-largeto permit this slight motion.

Theblock H5 is hollow as suggested in Fig. 10

to receive'apicker bunter ||2, and in this con-V nection -it'rmayal'so'be stated that binder block 84-is`alsohollowlto'receivea bunter. --The width of block v|34 plus'the thickness of wall 65 is substantially thelsam'e yasl the combined thickness 0f 30 'plate |04 and width'of block ||5, hence the same bolt 89 can be used with either the single or multiple box lconstruction. Y

With the guide plate |04 thus positioned the gang of boxes G can be moved by the rod 2B to vertical positions in response to the demand of the pattern being woven, and at this time the magazine will be thrown back to the dotted position of Fig. l so as not to interfere with the shifting shuttle boxes G when they are in their 40 highest position and the lay is rearward. The gang of shuttle boxes is-provided with a series of picker slots |25 which align with the slot 31 of the lay end Whenever the corresponding cell is opposite the lay end in picking position.

Fig. '7 is an assembly view showing a gang of boxes G being either raised from the lay end vwhen the loom is to bel changed back to weft replenishing or being applied to the lay end when lthe loom is to be operated pick and pick. It

will be seen that the rod 25 is in position to enter the sleeve 22 and passes through the slot 44 in the floor 43. When the gangy of boxes is down they assume the position shown in Fig. 8. at which time the nut 28 is in position to hold the cells in proper position for alignment with the lay. Removal of the gang G and the rod 26 can thus be readily eiected and the remainder of the drop box guiding and lifting mechanism will be held in position by spring 3| which will 6o exert a downward pressure on the sleeve to hold the chain 20 taut. Under these conditions the pattern mechanism at the opposite end of the loom will ordinarilybe built to cause no motion of the box chain 20 and it has been found in 55 practice that the bobbin can ordinarily be used for the reception of outgoing bobbins and-can be tted under the lay end in front of the sleeve 22 Without being interfered with by the latter.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have 70 provided a construction whereby a single lay end can be used and have applied thereto either a single shuttle box or a gang of shifting boxes.

When the single box is used it will be seen that the inner guide |1 serves to position the rear 75 wall 65 of the single box. Furthermore, the

block ||5 is separate from the plate |04 so that the latterl may bel adjusted angularly with respect to 'the-lay despite the fact that the tongue ||1l tsolosely into the groove' |l9. It will also be seen that the bolt hole 56 in the lay end is positioned to receive -bolt 89, andr that this same bolt holds the binderblock 84 and outer end of wall 65tothe lay end when a single box is to be used and also holds the adjustable plate |04 and the-'block ||5to the lay end. y

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be ma-de therein by' those skilled in the art without departing' from' the spirit and scope of the invention and "I do not lwish to be limited to the details hereinfdisclosed, but what-I claim is:

Y 1.In a'loom, a lay, a lay end secured thereto having ahorizontal picker receiving slot, a shuttle box -fo'rming element, a shuttle binder forthe element, a vertical wall forming part of the element having a picker slot extending horizontally therein in. the upper part of the wall, a box floor extending horizontally forwardly from the wall below the slot, and means extending through the wall below the floor to secure the element to the lay end with the slots in the lay and the wall in horizontal alignment.' y

2. In a loom, a lay, a lay end secured thereto having-a horizontal elongated picker guide slot terminating at the outer end in a picker receiving enlargement, a shuttle box forming element having an elongated picker guiding slot terminating at its outer end in an enlargement to receive the picker, a shuttle binder for the element, a floor forming part of the element extending horizontally and forwardly from the lay end below the slots, and detachable means to secure the element to the lay end with the guide slots and enlargements of the lay end and element in horizontal alignment.

3. In a loom, a lay, a lay end extending from the lay, a box forming element, a vertical w'all forming part of the element, a box floor forming part of the element, a shuttle binder for the element, a shuttle binder supporting member, means to secure the shuttle binder supporting member to the floor of thev clement, and means passing through the shuttle binder supporting member, the Wall of the element and into the lay end to hold the last named parts securely to the lay end.

ll. In a loom, a lay, a lay end extending from the lay, a box forming element, a vertical Wall forming part of the element, a box floor forming part of the element, a shuttle binder for the element, a shuttle binder supporting member, means to secure the shuttle binder supporting member to the iloor of the element, holding means passing through the shuttle binder supporting member, the wall of the element and into the lay end to hold the last named parts securely to the lay end, and holding additional means passing through the wall and into the lay end to hold said element to the latter, both of said holding means being detachable to effect removal of the element from the lay end.

5. In a loom, a lay, a lay end extending therefrom, a set of shifting shuttle boxes, a guide plate for the outer end of the shifting boxes, a block separate from the lay end and the guide plate, means to prevent angular movement of the block with respect to the lay end, and means to secure the guide plate and the block to the lay end, the plate being capable of assuming different angular positions in a vertical plane with respect to the block.

6. In a loom lay, a lay end, a set of shifting shuttle boxes having a guide tongue, a guide plate having a groove to receive the tongue, a block separate from and located between the guide plate and the lay end, means to prevent angular movement of the block with respect to the lay end, and means passing through the guide plate, the block and into the lay end to hold said parts together, the plate being capable of assuming different angular positions in a vertical plane with respect to the lay end.

7. In a loom, a lay capable of supporting a single box with a bolt hole therein at a given elevation with respect to the lay or a gang of shuttle boxes, a guide for said boxes having a bolt hole of the same elevation with respect to the lay, a lay end extending outwardly from the lay and having a bolt hole therethrough at said given elevation With respect to the lay, and a bolt to extend through the bolt hole of the lay end and through either the single shuttle box or the guide for the shuttle boxes.

8. In a loom, a lay capable of supporting a single box with a bolt. hole therein at a given elevation with respect to the lay or a guide for shifting boxes and having a bolt hole of the same elevation with respect to the lay, a lay end extending outwardly from the lay and having a bolt hole therethrough at said given elevation with respect to the lay, and a bolt to extend through the bolt hole of the lay end and through either the single shuttle box or the guide for the shuttle boxes, the distance from the lay end to the front part of the single box which is engaged by the bolt being the same as the distance from the lay end measured forwardly to the front part of the guide which is engaged by the bolt.

9. In a loom capable of operating either with a single shuttle box or a gang of shuttle boxes, a lay end having an abutting surface, two sets of box members, one set including a box back having a rear surface to engage the abutting surface and a binder support having a rear surfaceto engage the. box back, said binder support having a forward bolt` engaging surface, the other set having a block to engage the abutting surface and having also a box guide in front of the block and in engagement therewith, said guide having a. bolt engaging surface, the distance between the engaging surface of the lay end and the bolt engaging surface of both the binder support and the guide being substantially the same, and the bolt capable of holding eitherl the binder' support or the block and box guide to the lay end, the binder support being used with the single shuttle box and the block and guide being used with the shifting boxes.

BENJAMIN W. BROUWER. 

